AU7508898A

AU7508898A - Simethicone/anhydrous calcium phosphate compositions

Info

Publication number: AU7508898A
Application number: AU75088/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joseph R. Luber; Glenn Madison; Gerard Mcnally
Original assignee: McNeil PPC Inc
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson Consumer Inc
Priority date: 1997-07-17
Filing date: 1998-07-09
Publication date: 1999-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-09
Also published as: PL189988B1; CZ294084B6; PT891776E; ZA986338B; EP0891776B1; HUP9801615A3; HU9801615D0; KR19990013918A; JPH1192387A; DK0891776T3; CN1267106C; BR9802487B1; EP0891776A1; RU2216317C2; ES2216244T3; ATE259236T1; DE69821553D1; HUP9801615A2; BR9802487A; CN1207898A

Description

R c g u i tti 3 2 A~jsTRALIA VIP, Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD

PATENT

ORIGINAL

j Name of Applicant: JOHNSON JOHNSON RESEARCH PTY.

LIMITED)

Actual Inventors: Joseph R. LUBER, Glenn MADISON and Gerard McNALLY Addre~s for service *in Australia: CARTER SMITH

BEADLE

2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia Invention Title: SIMETHCONEIANHYDROUS CALCIUM

PHOSPHATE

COMPOSITIONS

-me following statcment is a Wul descnptiotl of this invetion~i, including the bmn method of peiftig it known to us J &M-32 SIMETHICONE/ANITHYDROU C-DLCIUI4~ P!ESEIATE COMU 0SZ1-TOGS, BACKGROUND OF7T11E TNVENTLON S1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates: to oral solid, pharma-ceutical cosage f d rm scomprisinq an admixture of simethicone and anhydrous trciba 'c or dibasic calciun phosphate, free flowina grandlaEr c'mpositions for preparing.

such dosage forms and. methods for- their production.

2. Background is a mixture of fully methylated linear siloanepolymers -containing repeating units of polydimethylsiloxane stabilized with trimethylSiloxy endblocking units, and silicon dioxide. S-imethicone contain s 90.5-99% Of polydimethYlsildXane and 4-7% silicon dioxide.

The polydimethylsiloxales present in simethicone are practically inert polymers having a molecular weight of 14,000-21,000. The mixture iJs a gray, translucent, viscous fluid which is insoluble in water-.

When administered orally, simethicone is used as8 an adjunct in the symptomatic treatment of flatulence, functional gastric bloating, and postoperativeorgas pains. The clinical use of simethicole is based on its antifoam properties.

Silcoe atioallsspread on the surface of actueou's licruids, formna film of. low surface tension and -mn thus' -causing the collapse of foam bubbles. Thus for self medication in overthe -counter preparations, simethi cole is used as a antiflatulelt to relieve symptoms commonly referred to as gas, including upper GI bloating,' pressure, fullness, o~r stuffed f'e'eling. It is often combined with other gastroilntestinal medications, such as antacids, antispasmodicS or digestive -I A- Sj&M-32 enzymes and various simethiconE formulations are disclosed in the prior art.

Simethicone can be administered orally as a liquid preparation or as solid form for example capsules, chewable or N swallowable tablets. The preferred form for ease of administration is a swallowable tablet. The advantage of tablets over liquids is the ease of portability. The I advantages of swallowable tablets over chewable tablets o0 include the ease of ingestion and lack of taste. Film coated or gelatin coated tablets are preferred for swallowable tablets.

Historically, in preparing solid simethicone dosage forms, difficulties have been encountered when attempting to incorporate substantial quantities of the liquid simethicone in the solid final blend for tableting. The difficulty has been -to achieve sufficient cohesion in the compact for mpression, particularly for direct compression tableting, so that the tablet will withstand the rigors of further processing, i.e. film coating, gelatin dipping, printing, packaging and the like. Likewise, difficulties have been Sencountered in assuring that the viscous liquid simethicone is Suniformly distributed throughout the-solid formulation and expeditiously dispersed upon administration.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a composition and process wherein substantial quantities of liquid simethicone can be incorporated into solid tablet formulations for manufacture by a dry blend/direct compression process.

S. U.S. patent 4,906,478 discloses a simethiccne preparation comprising a powdered combinate of particulate calcium silicate and simethicone. U.S. patent 5,073,384 discloses simethicone preparations comprising combinates of water

A

2

M

R

-4 soluble agglomerated -maltodeXtr n ansmti~e ptn 5,458,886 discL.6ses, a free-fl wng grnlr op5:1e r comprising titanu dixe having soecifcprtcesie n surface area in. om.b-inatiofl1 with SimetshiCefle While t e mehds are Cof 1 some benefit in achieving, a iMthon cmeost~l 'ai o h r blend/direct compression ~~ufc~rngpoces the 'Present inventionl provides furher improvements to ',aCo-,mplish..the object of providinlg a 0 oiuptif which may be earJ and inexpensively f ormulated int o .otent swallowable or ch- a~le tablets.- U1iaARY .,OF THE

!NVE-NTION

Th nvftjO relates 1oantifoal' oral s)lid dosageform preparations f from a tree 'flowing granular composition comprising, an admn'ixtUre of simethicone and either o. ne or both, of anhydrou s tribasic calcium phosphater iai calciU phosphate wheremin the admixture is- a u n if o rmr granullar composition of ntmore than 840 mi-cron particle size_ which.1 is Suitbl for cumpresin into a soli-dsg fr oroa administration. -,The granular anhydrous tiasic or dibasic calciuml phosphate preferably comprises about 30-90% w/w of the admixture comrbiiflate. The simethicone preferably comprises 'about 10-70% w/w' o f- the admixture combiflate. In a preferred embodiment,. the7. combiflate further comprises 0.5 to 4% w/w-o-f a silicone dioxide :or 1.0-30.0% w/w of anhydrous cai ciuma phosphate powder. The free flowing granular compositionl is admixed w i tI conventional tablet binders and excip3iefts and is compressed into the solid oral dosage formns. Preferably, the simethicofe comprises greater than about 8% and less than about 20% ww of the final blend for Compression.

in another'aspect. of the, invention, a process foJ- duiL a reflowing grnlrcm ition of a simthiccle antifoam agent' for compression into solid oral dosage frms is provire which comprises formingq an admixtr ofgrnua 6 jt&y 1998 3- 41O77SP5E j&M- 32 anhd-cus7-r-Daos r the t:D~l ord~asi IVo dicxidCe or simethicor'.e antiJ f~arn agent and or,4-n anhydrouis iam~Ur ohosv~hat,-e powoer Ov adn re =ijnethicofle to the granular tribasit- or diba~ic calc p-_n-osophate -anid h optional silicon dioxide or anhydrous calc4UM phosr-iiate powder, -dry blendilurti-!1 uniform and sneariflg to assure a uniformn powder. nafrteasctof the process, the granular composition i~then combined with exc'Pient materials or other active ingredients and compressed to provide the t solid oral dosage form, preferably in the fr f oprse tablet, which may be further processed by coatinlg with an aqeus film coating or enreric coating and/or gelatin dipped and, printed.

Benefits of the anhydrouS calcium phosphatCs/sinethl cone coinbinate of the present invention ovpor the- aforemenltionied por art compositions are that it is both a more freefoig and more stable admixture than one comprising agglomerated maltodetrifl/imethi-corle and it i s not, Prone to separation of the simethicofle from the substrate.' A benefit over the composition of U.S. patent 4,906,478 is that the anhydrous calciiim phosphate/simetticone coxnbirnates have signi fiCantlY better defoafming activity as measured by U.S. Pharnacopia standards CUSP 23, pae11 Ciat;-icone Tablets monograch) DETAILED

DESCRIPTION

As indicated, the dosage forms of the present inventionl contain an antifoamf agent such as simethicone as an active ingredient. The simethicofle preferably conforns to the United States Pharmacopoeia CUSP XXII-) definition, that is, a mixture of fully methylated linear siloxane rolymers containling repeatinlg units of the forMula 3 2 stabilized wi-jth -*ttimethyi siloxy eind-blocking units of the formula SiC-) and silic6h dioxide. Other orcanooovsiloxane antifoam agents are known in the art andmay also be used as the acri-i J 3 2 14 ~ingredient in- tai _-went~2 u~OaftC~!~~~n antifoam agents ar dsclosed far eXain~±e, U.S. Patent 5,458,886, and the references discussed thereihrb incorporated by reference. Typicall-y, the anti-foam agientzs are viscous liquid or Daste- 1 ''ke mater-ials. At standard temperature and Dressur e,.5imet-hicone is described as a waterwhite to gray, translucent, visco~us oil-Ilke liouid with a density of 0.965-0-970 grams per cubic centimeter and is immiscible with water and alconol.. Thus, the present invention provide s a method for forming free flowing granular comp~ositionS from such viscous oily liquid or paste-like anti-foam agents, which granular compositions are suitable for comp~ression into solid oral dosagre forms.

K

Li The amount of simethicone or other organbolysilOXane ant.;foam.agnt cotained in the solid oral dosage form should be sufficient to provide a- Itherapoeutic dosage to a patient suffering from "gas or flatulence a.nd associated symptoms. The preferred dosage range -for simethicole is in the range of about 20 mg to about 125 mg per :dosage unit, generally not to exceed 500 mg/day. The dosage ranges may vary for age and.

weight of a patient as well1 as the severity of symptoms.

The tribasic or dibasic calcium rhosmhate is essentially in the anhydrous form. Commercial forms of anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate6s are available from Phone- Poulenc; Mendell and FM4C Corp.

In accordance with the present invenclon, th e s irie ticone is admixed with the granulated anhydrous tribasic or dibasic clcium. phosphatLe to form. a uniform free flowing g-_.anular comosition. Generally, it is desired that the admixture contain a proportionate amount of the simeticofe an tif oa M agent and granular anihydrous calcium phosnhate which iS consistent with -forming a free-flowina cranular composition.

Preferably, the proportionate amounts of the inaredients or I&7 2

I

'Th- granular admxte fsr.o zt LU-J l simerthicone and aoout 30-90 w/w granu111 ar _anvdrous t-rioasic or dibasi cacum c:nos_ hare. 'l in-r n are b iennea, sliaarred and screened to assure a tfre 1w ctanulatofL not more -tan about, -Ioc0 ni-cn part-icle size.

Optionally, the granular cor-position m.ay~ alsoqconafl'a amount of.A silicone dioxfda or annyarou.s calcium phospvhate powder, preferably Silicon Dioxide j7F n,,an- amopunt of about 4% w/w or anhydrous calcium onosDhatre powder 4i an amount of about 1.0- 30.0% wfw of the granular. coeposit1on.

The .5imethicone/granu.lar anhydrous. calciu-m phosp'fate admixture composition is con-veniently prepared by, a dry blend.

procedure. The anhydrous tribasicoar dibasic calcium phosphate is first granulated either by dry compacti.on orby wet granulation/drying, preferably by dry. compaction. Nexrt, the simethicone comoound is added to a moving bed, of granular~ anhydrous 'tribasic or dibasic calci UM phosphate so thacthefl -sirethicone is, uniformliy distributed an~d the, granul a~r anhydrous calcium phosphate particle size .remains essentially unchanged. The bed is kept In motion b y low shear mixers.

After the granular anhydrous tribasic or diba-sic: cal uM phosphate bed has absorbed the simethicone and af .ineljy divided granular comnosittion is maintained, the s illcon dioxide or anhydrous calcium phosph-ate powder may- be aded The granulation may then be screened through a INo. 20 US Standardi screen (about 240 microns).

'The solid oral dosace forms of the present inven.-ion may be orenared i n the form of tablets, cap 1 e's aelcao0s, capsules, chewable tablets,, l-ozenges, fast: dissoilvang wafers, and Qther known and effective delivery mzodes. The fe flowing granular simeth-icone/alhydrous -ribasic -or- dibas ic calcim p hosphate comoitiic ma'; be ad-nixed with a varityo pharmacduti.cally acceptable exciien'ts i ciudina tr binders, sweeteners, art-if Jai sweez-ener~ lub- 4 a--S, J&i~ s negra ,cc c sC aaen"-s and flavorU'.a aen- s h hieo exC__etwL~ depenid ccn the soIid c ral dosa ge S=P ojC~e ta cL S car, Ie ts, or cansules, wner:ler 7re cosace lz=t is zneWac-L Sor a swallowable ~ncito.Swa wabi Oralalt prepared bv direct: compression are orer erre n- Xc~i;eftS Lwhich are compatible wit_ .d~tcoMresslon t-ablet fotc'ujatins are preferred., For examo-e, eX_1.ftScosen from. Lthe followinar list. mav empooved: a) diluenrs s u c' a ~s lac: 3se Kao- mann2-L crvstaLline sorbitol, addizional di iasic or calci'Um Ohoso-hates and the Like; b) binders such as sugars, Mi-croc:rjstalline cellulose carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, polTjinylpyrrolidone and, th-e like;.

t )lubricants suchi as maanesium stearate, talc, calciu stearate, zinc stearate, stearic acd, hydroqenated veaertable oil, leucine, glycerides and sodium stearvil fumarate; -d)-disintegrants such as starches, croscarmellose sodium, inethylcellulose, aaar, bentcnite, algiaic acid, carboxymethylcelluib se, poLyvinyloyrroliLdofle and the like; e) scavengers sucn a c a's silicon d c.re anhvdrcus cacifLn- mhcssphates; f).flavoring agents such as r ma n n tiT dextrose, fructose, soritol and the like; and g) colorq gents "Iother. su i ta b-e excoz~en"s can be found in the .HA ni r of 3 0 Pha ±macIti.; ents tSe IeCc anl PharmaceuticaI~ASbit~l e~ o~~~db A:tpa o~efr of'rh presen- nvn~r a v have a formnulati2on co'7_a-i a v a i ou crc ec~ r-z n accorcanc wr the floig -7- 3&IM-32 Free -flowina Simethicone Ad-mixture 10% to 99%- Tribasic Calcium Phosphate, Anhvdrous. 45% to Simethicone USE low to Sca-venger e.g.Silicon Dioxide, NIF 1% to or -Anhvdrous Calcium PhospDhate Powder Exci~ients 1% to Diluent OW to Binders 0% to Is Lubricant 0% to Scavenger 0% to Flavorant/Colorants 0% to Preferably, the simethicane content of the final tablet formulation comprises about 8% to about 20%-w/w of the final ablend. The production of the oral dosage 'torms- of the invention are carried out by methods known in the art, for I. example, by granulating the anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate using either dry compaction or wet, granulation techniques; forming the free flowing simethicone/granular' anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate admixture; mixina the free flowing simethicone/granular anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium -phosphate composition with the excipients and then forming the composition into the dosagre form by methods known in the art, for example by direct compression, dry granulation or the like- Suitable manufacturingr methods for oral solid dosage forms are disclosed in Reminaton's Pharmaceutical Science, 18th> Edition, published by Mack Publishing Company, hereby -incorporat ed-by reference. Preferablyr the. manufacturing procedure generally involves preoarmig the free flowing j&M-12 siitni _ccnegranul.r anihvdroTis _rIbasic or dbs. acu nophate admixture as descri ed above, adding thme additi onal b~nder/diluent/1ltern exci=leflts with l1ow shear bl endi-ng, adding a lubricant and lorevarina tablets bv direct Optionally, the dosage -form can include one or more additional act -ve ingredients suitable for the treatment of gastrointestinial disorders, for example heartburn, ulcers or diarrhea. Suitable active agents for- treating gastrointestinal disorders include heartburn or antiulcer medicaments such as sucralfate, the H2 receptor.- antagonists cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine -or nizatidine, proton pump inhibitocrs such as tmevrazole or lansoprazole; antidi arraeal agents such as loperamide and dinhenoxylate; gastrointestinal motility agents such as cisapride, and antacids such as aluminum hydroxide, maoeiu croate ageium, hydroxide,.

calcium carbonate and the like. The amount -of such additional active ingredient combined with th simetioesol ea 20 amount sufficient to provide a therapeutic dosage to a patient suffering from the gastrointestinal disorder being treated.

1The following examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention: 14 25 .EXAIMPLE

L

Preparation of 5 imethicone /Granu lar AnhvdroTus Trrbasic Caiumn Phosnhate Admixture 1700 am of granular trica1c;m phshate (Tritab®2, Rhone- Poulenc, Shelton, Ct) is added- to tne amax-ng 10- 7 Kitchen Aid mixer- 2. WhilIe mixing at_ Low, speed, over a perio ofa mruC .d 200 gmr of simethicone,

USP.

3. Continue mixing at low speed- 'O ar additional. S mntS 4. Add 2.5S am of silic;-onl di-:oxide and mix an additional

I

minutes.

J&M-3 2 This intermnedi~ate is a free flowing granulation wit~h no large agglomerates.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of Siiethicofe/Graflular Anhydrouls Dibasic calcium Phosiphate Adixture.

1) 700 gmn of granular anhydrou5 dibasic calciumti priosphate, (Enompress® Anhydrou5, Mendell, Paterson, NJT) is added to the mixing bowl of a Kitchen Aid mixer.

2) While mixing a low speed, over a period of 5 mi'nuteS add 200 gmn of simethicone,

USP.

3) Continue mixing at low speed for an additional, 5 minutes.

Add 7.5 gmn of silicon dioxide and mix an additional minutes.

This intermediate is a free flowing-granulation with no large agglomerates.

20 COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 *Preparation of Simethicone/Graflular Dibasic Calcium Phosphate Dihvdrate Admixture.

25 1) 700 gmn of granular Dicalcium, phosphate, Dihydrate (Eicompress®, Mendell, Paterson, NJ Iis added to the mixing bowl of a Kitchen Aid mixer.

2) While mixing at low speed, over a period of 5 minutes add 200 gmn of-siinethicofle,

USP.

3) Continue mixing at low speed -for an additional 5 minutes.

4) Add 30 gmn of silicon dioxide and mi x an additional 5 minutes.

This-intermediate is NOT a free flowing granulation. it contains many large agglomerates.

J&M-32 EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of Chewable Tablets Containing Simethicone/Granular Anhydrous Tribasic Calcium Phosphate Admixture.

1) 89 gm of the free flowing granular intermediate from Example 1 was then blended with 98 gm of Dextrates, 7.5 gm granular sorbitol, 0.6 gm peppermint flavor, and 0.5 gm stearic acid.

2) The blend was finally compressed using 5/8" FFBE tooling.

-The tablet weight was 1300 mg. The physical properties of the tablet were: Hardness: 8-10 kp Friability: less than 0.1% at 100 drops Disintegration in water: less than 1 minute Defoan: 5 secs.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of Chewable Tablets Containing Simethicone/Granular Anhydrous Tribasic Calcium Phosphate 20 Admixture.

1) 1500 gm.of tricalcium phosphate powder was dry granulated by roller compacting at a roll pressure of 500 psi.

2) The compact was passed through a Fitz Mill with a 0.093" 25 screen, knives forward.

3) The milled material was screened, and the -30 to +80 mesh fraction collected as product.

4) 700 gm of compacted tricalcium phosphate granules was added to the mixing bowl of a Kitchen Aid mixer.

5) While mixing a low speed, over a period of 5 minutes add 200 gm of simethicone, USP.

6) Continue mixing at low speed for an additional 5 minutes.

7) Add 20 gm of tricalcium phosphate powder and mix an additional 5 minutes.

Te is a fe wh no This intermediate is a free flowing granulation with no large j&M-32 agglomerates.

8) 91 gm of the above intermediate was then blended with 98 gm of Dextrates, 7.5 gm granular sorbitol, 0.6 gm peppermint flavor, and 0.5 gm stearic acid.

9) The blend was finally compressed using 5/8" FFBE tooling.

The tablet weight was 1300 mg. The physical properties of the tablet were: Hardness: 11-12 kp Friability: less than 0.1% at 100 drops Disintegration in N/10 HCI: less than 1.5 minute Defoam: 7 secs -o t o a* J&M-32 EXAMPLE Preparation of Chewable Tablets Containli Simethicone/Granular Anhydrous Tribasic Calcium Phosohate Admixture.

1) 500 gm of tricalcium phosphate powder and 50 gm of pregel starch were dry blended in a Kitchen Aid mixer.

2) 310 gm of purified water was slowly added to the mixer with _continuous mixing.

3) The wet granulation was passed through a #12 mesh screen and then dried for 5 hours at 50 0

C.

4) The dried granules were passed through a *18 mesh screen and material less than #70 mesh was removed.

5) Steps 1-4 were repeated.

6) Then 700 gm of granulated tricalcium phosphate/pregei starch granules is added to the mixing bowl of a Kitchen Aid mixer.

7) While mixing a low speed, over a period of 5 minutes add 200 gm of simethicone,

USP.

8) Continue mixing at low speed for an additional 5 minutes.

This intermediate is a free flowing granulation with no large S agglomerates.

9) 89 gm of the above intermediate.was then blended with 98 gm Sof Dextrates, 7.5 gm granular sorbitol, 0.6 gm peppemint flavor, and 0.5 gm stearic acid.

10)The blend was finally compressed using 5/8" FBE tooling.

The tablet weight was 1300 mg, and its physical properties were: Hardness: 8-9 kp Friability: less than 0.1% at 100 drops I: Disintegration in N/10 HC1: less than 1 minute SDefoam: 5 secs.

-13- J&M- 32 EXA~MPLE 6 Preparatiorf of Swallowable Film Coated Tablets Containing S imethi cone/ Gralular Anhvdrous Tribasic Calcium Phosphate Admixture.

I.

J:.

pART 1) A concenltrate comprised of gra,,,aar and powdered anhydrous tribasic calcium phosphates, and simethicole is £0prepared by adding simethicole compound, LISP to a moving--bed of granul .ar tribasic calcium phosphate so.-that the simethicoleis distributed evenly and the granular calcium phosphateparticle :size remains essentially unchanged. The bed is kept in motion by low shear mixers such as fluid bed, Nauta, PK' 1s without intensifier bar, pin mixer, or ribbon, mixer. Aftelr -14- J&M-32 the bed has adsorbed the simethicone, anhydrous tribasic calcium phosphate powder is added. The granulation may then be screened through a No. 20 US Std screen 840 micron).

PART 2) When a final blend for compression is desired :an additional quantity of calcium phosphate powder is added to the PART 1 concentrate and blended.

PART 3) Excipients including a disintegrant are then added.

with low shear blending which imparts uniform distribution of the active within a binding matrix of limited compositional range.

PART 4) The final addition step is to add a lubricant.

PART 5) The blend is compressed into tablets using a rotary tablet press.

p-ART 6) Tablets are then film coated and/for gelatin dipped.

Typical film coated tablet characteristics: Hardness range 6-14 kp Tablet weight (cr e) Approx. 1000 mg USP disintegration, 'time in water Less than 7 minutes, in ^lj 25 acid media Less than 6 minutes USP Defoaming activity time: 9 seconds or the purposes of this specification, including the claims, the term "comprising" shall be Staken to have the meaning "including".

L

Claims

1. An antifoam simethicone oral solid dosage form preparation formed from a free flowing granular composition comprising an admixture of simethicone and granular anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate or a mixture thereof; wherein the simethicone/calcium phosphate admixture is a uniform granular composition of not more than 1000 micron particle size.

2. An oral solid dosage form of claim 1 wherein said dosage form is in the form of a unit dcse compressed swallowable or chewable tablet, or caplet, gelcap, capsule, lozenge or fast dissolving wafer.

3. An oral solid dosage form of claim 1 further containing one or more excipients in addition to said free flowing granular composition.

4. An oral solid dosage form of claim 3 wherein said excipients are selected from one or more fillers, S* binders, sweeteners, artificial sweeteners, lubricants, glidants, disintegrants, colors, adsorbents, acidifying agents, and flavoring agents. An oral solid dosage form of claim 1 wherein the simethicone content of the dosage form comprises about.8% to about 20% w/w.

S

6. An-oral solid dosage form of claim 5 further containing crystalline sorbitol, microcrystalline cellulose and anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate as excipients in addition to the free flowing granular composition of simethicone and granular anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate. J&M-32

7. The oral solid dosage form of claim 1 further including one or more additional active ingredients suitable for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

8. The oral solid dosage form of claim 7 wherein the additional active ingredient is selected from one or more of the following: H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, antidiarrheal agents, gastrointestinal motility agents, and antacids.

9. A free flowing granular composition comprising an admixture of simethicone and granular anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate or a mixture thereof; wherein the simethicone/calcium phosphate admixture is a uniform granular composition of not more than 1000 micron particle size.

The free flowing granular composition of claim 9 wherein the proportionate amounts of the ingredients of the granular admixture:composition is about 10-70% w/w simethicone and about 30-90 w/w granular anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate.

11. The free flowing granular .composition of claim 9 further containing either Silicon Dioxide in an amount of about 4% w/w or anhydrous calcium phosphate powder in an amount of about 1-30% w/w of the granular composition.

12. A process for producing a free flowing granular composition of a simethicone antifoam agent for compression into solid oral dosage forms which comprises forming an admixture of granular anhydrous tribasic and/or dibasic calcium phosphate, the simethicone antifoam agent and optionally a scavenger such as silicon dioxide or anhydrous calcium phosphate powder by adding -17- the simethicone to the granular anhydrous tribasic or dibasic calcium phosphate and the optional silicon dioxide or anhydrous calcium phosphate powder, dry blending until uniform and shearing to assure a uniform free flowing granular composition.

13. An antifoaa simethicone oral solid dosage form preparation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples.

14. A free flowing granular composition substantially as S 10 hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples. A process for producing a free flowing granular composition substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples. DATED: 6 July 1998 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Spatent Attorneys for the Applicant: JOHNSON JOHNSON IESEARCH PTY. LIMITED S" V ato Lese I,'il -18- 6 July 199 ?-2m797.CLA